South China Sea arbitration: Philippine activists protest outside Chinese Embassy in Manila

Manila: Philippine activists on Tuesday protested outside the Chinese Embassy ahead of a landmark ruling by an international court on a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The activists carried placards saying “The Philippines is ours, get out China,” “Hands off Philippines” and “China out of the Philippine Waters” as they marched to the embassy in the financial district of Makati City. [caption id=“attachment_2888690” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Demonstrators display a part of a fishing boat with anti-China protest signs during a rally by different activist groups over the South China Sea dispute. Reuters[/caption]   “We are confident the arbitration court will favour the Philippines and we can disprove China’s irrational claim in our territory,” said Salvador France, vice chairman of Pamalakaya, a fisherfolk organization that led the protest. “China by hook or by crook must immediately stop their reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea and leave if the arbitration will favour the Philippines’ claim on the disputed waters,” he added. [caption id=“attachment_2888702” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Protesters chant anti-China slogans during a rally over the South China Sea disputes, outside the Chinese Consulate. Reuters[/caption] The Permanent Court of Arbitration is scheduled to hand down a decision on the Philippines’ case against China at 5 pm (0900 GMT). Manila filed the case in January 2013 after China took control of Scarborough Shoal, 124 nautical miles from the Philippines’ northwestern coast. [caption id=“attachment_2888710” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Demonstrators display a part of a fishing boat with anti-China protest signs during a rally by different activist groups over the South China Sea disputes. Reuters[/caption] The case seeks to declare China’s claims to almost the entire South China Sea as illegal and against international maritime laws, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. [caption id=“attachment_2888734” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  A Philippine national flag flutters on a part of a fishing boat with anti-China protest signs, as demonstrators march towards the Chinese Consulate. Reuters[/caption]             Beijing has refused to participate in the arbitration. Apart from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also have overlapping claims to the South China Sea, a key shipping lane believed to be rich in mineral and marine resources.